Guide to the Grunsky Family Papers, 1830-1969

Processed by Elizabeth Konzak; additions processed by Bancroft staff in 2022.
The Bancroft Library
© 2003
The Bancroft Library
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720-6000
bancref@library.berkeley.edu


Contributing Institution: The Bancroft Library
Title: Grunsky Family Papers
Creator: Grunsky family
Creator: Grunsky, Charles, 1823-1891.
Creator: Grunsky, C. E. (Carl Ewald), 1855-1934.
Creator: Grunsky, Clotilde, 1830-1864.
Creator: Grunsky, Eugene L.
Identifier/Call Number: BANC MSS C-B 557
Physical Description: 8.5 linear feet (8 boxes, 4 Cartons, 4 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Date (inclusive): 1830-1969
Abstract: The Grunsky Family Papers consist of correspondence, documents, diaries, notebooks, and professional papers. Correspondence from German immigrant Charles (Carl) Grunsky and his first wife, Clotilde Camerer, describes California during and after the gold rush to family in Germany (written in German). Correspondence continues with Charles' children, Carl Ewald, Charlotte (Lottie), Otto, and Anna as well as Carl Ewald's wife Martha Kate Powers, her father Aaron Powers, and their children Eugene Lucius and Clotilde. The materials include descriptions of family life, the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and World War I Germany. Also documented is Carl Ewald Grunsky's professional life as an engineer in California, serving as San Francisco City Engineer and on the Isthmian Canal Commission (Panama Canal). The materials provide an overview of a successful California family from the gold rush to the mid-twentieth century.
Physical Location: Collection stored in part off-site. Advance notice required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language of Material: English

Access

Collection is open for research.

Provenance

The Grunsky Family Papers given to The Bancroft Library by Clotilde Grunsky Taylor in 1954 and 1955 were originally cataloged as BANC MSS C-B 557. Additions given in 1984, originally cataloged as BANC MSS 85/63 c, have been consolidated into the collection BANC MSS C-B 557. Additions given in 2017 by Trish Taylor.

Family Chronology

1823 Charles (Carl) Albert Leopold Grunsky born, Maichingen, Germany (d. 1891)
1844 Charles Grunsky immigrates to America
1849 Charles Grunsky moves to California
1852 Charles Grunsky marries Clotilde Camerer (1830-1864)
1853 Charlotte (Lottie) Fredricka born (d. 1920)
1855 Carl Ewald born (d. 1934)
1857 Otto Maximilian born (d. 1922)
1866 Charles Grunsky's second marriage, to Fredrika (Charlotte Louise) Camerer (1838-1874)
1876 Charles Grunsky's third marriage, to Anna Marie Follert Wurster (1836-1903)
1879 Anna Pauline born (d. 1935) to Charles and Anna Marie Grunsky
1883 Carl Ewald Grunsky marries Martha Kate Powers (1858-1921)
1886 Eugene Lucius born (d.1946) to Carl Ewald and Martha Kate Grunsky
1891 Clotilde born (d. 1994) to Carl Ewald and Martha Kate Grunsky
Note: This limited family chronology lists only family members included in the collection. For additional genealogical materials, see Series 3.7, Clotilde Grunsky Taylor.
1823 Charles (Carl) Albert Leopold Grunsky born, Maichingen, Germany (d. 1891)
1844 Charles Grunsky immigrates to America
1849 Charles Grunsky moves to California
1852 Charles Grunsky marries Clotilde Camerer (1830-1864)
1853 Charlotte (Lottie) Fredricka born (d. 1920)
1855 Carl Ewald born (d. 1934)
1857 Otto Maximilian born (d. 1922)
1866 Charles Grunsky's second marriage, to Fredrika (Charlotte Louise) Camerer (1838-1874)
1876 Charles Grunsky's third marriage, to Anna Marie Follert Wurster (1836-1903)
1879 Anna Pauline born (d. 1935) to Charles and Anna Marie Grunsky
1883 Carl Ewald Grunsky marries Martha Kate Powers (1858-1921)
1886 Eugene Lucius born (d.1946) to Carl Ewald and Martha Kate Grunsky
1891 Clotilde born (d. 1994) to Carl Ewald and Martha Kate Grunsky
Note: This limited family chronology lists only family members included in the collection. For additional genealogical materials, see Series 3.7, Clotilde Grunsky Taylor.

Family History

Charles (Carl) Grunsky left Wurttenberg, Germany in 1844 to immigrate to America. Dissatisfied with his prospects in Saint Louis and Alabama, he came west to California in 1849. After a brief experience in the mines, Charles established a successful transport business in Copperopolis. Charles went home to Wurttenberg in 1852, returning to California with his bride, Clotilde Camerer Grunsky. The Grunsky family settled on a ranch near Stockton. Clotilde Grunsky had seven children from 1853-1863. After Clotilde's death in 1864, Charles married Frederika (Charlotte Louise) Camerer in 1866. Fredricka had three children before her death in 1874. Charles married a third time, to Anna Marie Follert Wurster in 1876. Anna had the last of Charles' eleven children. Charles died in 1891.
Carl Ewald Grunsky was born to Charles and Clotilde in 1855. After graduating from high school, Grunsky continued his education in Stuttgart Germany, graduating as a Doctor of Engineering 1877. Returning to California, he worked with the State Engineering Department of California and the Examining Commission on Rivers and Harbors of California. Grunsky continued in private practice while consulting for the San Francisco Sewage Commission, the Commissioner of Public Works of California, and as San Francisco's first City Engineer from 1901-1904. Grunsky was a member of the Isthmian Canal Commission in 1904-1905 then a consulting engineer with the U.S. Reclamation Service from 1905-1907, while continuing private practice in New York and San Francisco. Grunsky was an active member of many organizations, including the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Pacific Coast Technology Society, the Commonwealth Club of California, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He was elected a resident member of the California Academy of Sciences in 1896 and was the Academy's President from 1912 until his death in 1934.
Carl Ewald Grunsky married Martha Kate Powers in 1883, and they had four children. Martha Kate Power's father, Aaron Hubbard Powers, came to California in 1949 by Cape Horn. Carl Ewald and Martha Kate's sons, Carl Ewald Jr. and Eugene Lucius, followed their father's footsteps and became engineers. One daughter, Clotilde Grunsky Taylor, an editor and graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, researched the family genealogy and wrote books from the family correspondence. Clotilde Grunsky Taylor donated the family papers and her research in 1955.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Grunsky Family Papers, BANC MSS C-B 557, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.

Related Collections

Illustrations for Stockton Boyhood from the Grunsky family papers [graphic] ca. 1849-ca. 1931. BANC PIC 1954.026-B. The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Pictorial material from the Grunsky family papers [graphic] ca. 1850-1931. BANC PIC 1984.055-PIC. The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Stockton boyhood; Being the reminiscences of Carl Ewald Grunsky which cover the years from 1855 to 1877. ed. by Clotilde C. Taylor. Bancroft Library publications no. 7. Berkeley, Calif. Friends of the Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 1959.
Grunsky, Charles, 1823-1891. From Europe to California: Extracts from letters of Charles Grunsky and his wife Clotilde, 1844-1853. F593.G87 The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Taylor, Clotilde Grunsky, b. 1891. Dear family; the story of the lives of Charles and Clotilde Grunsky, 1823-1891 , xF860.T23 The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Grunsky, Carl Ewald (1855-1934). Papers. 18 boxes, 4.4 cu.ft. California Academy of Sciences Special Collections. San Francisco, California.

Scope and Content of Collection

The Grunsky Family Papers consist of correspondence, documents, diaries, notebooks, and professional papers. Correspondence from German immigrant Charles (Carl) Grunsky and his first wife, Clotilde Camerer, describes California during and after the gold rush to family in Germany (written in German). Correspondence continues between family members and Charles's children, Carl Ewald, Charlotte (Lottie), Otto, and Anna. Additional correspondence from Carl Ewald's wife Martha Kate Powers, her father Aaron Hubbard Powers, and their children Eugene Lucius and Clotilde. The materials include descriptions of family life, the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, and World War I Germany.
Also documented is Carl Ewald Grunsky's professional life as an engineer in California, as San Francisco city engineer, part of the Isthmian Canal Commission (Panama Canal), and as a member of the California Academy of Sciences. Records include correspondence, speeches, articles, and notebooks.
The materials provide an overview of a successful California family from the gold rush to the mid-twentieth century. Researchers will be particularly interested in the historical topics within the family's correspondence and the professional records of engineer Carl Ewald Grunsky.

Separated Material

Pictorial material transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library (BANC PIC 1954.026-B, BANC PIC 1984.055-PIC)

Publication Rights

Copyright has not been assigned to The Bancroft Library. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Public Services. Permission for publication is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Grunsky, Charles, 1823-1891.
Grunsky, Clotilde, 1830-1864.
Grunsky, C. E. (Carl Ewald), 1855-1934.
Grunsky, Eugene L.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.).
World War, 1914-1918.
Earthquakes--California--San Francisco.
Fires--California--San Francisco.
Family papers.

 

SERIES 1: Grunsky, Charles (Carl) Albert Leopold (1823-1891) SERIES 1: 1830-1881

Physical Description: Box 1, 4, 5

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically and chronologically

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, business papers, legal documents, and diaries from Charles (Carl) Grunsky and his wife, Clotilde Camerer Grunsky. Documents describe daily life in California. Correspondence is generally in German to or from family in Germany. [see also sub series 3.7 Clotilde Grunsky Taylor for family history]
 

Correspondence

box 1, folder 1-12

Outgoing 1830-1866

 

Incoming

box 1, folder 13-19

Family (also to first wife, Clotilde Camerer Grunsky (1830-1864)) 1848-1880

box 1, folder 20-21

General 1849-1870

box 1, folder 22

Business Papers 1852-1869

box 1, folder 23

Legal Identification Documents 1851-1881

box 5

Diaries 1844-1851, 1864

carton 4, folder 52

Diary

box 4

Diaries 1852, 1855

box 4

Clotilde Camerer Grunsky Diary 1852-1859

 

SERIES 2: Grunsky, Carl Ewald (1855-1934) 1866-1933

Physical Description: Box 1-6, 8-10, Carton 1-2, Oversize Folder

Arrangement

Arranged hierarchically and chronologically

Scope and Contents

The Carl Ewald Grunsky papers are divided into five sub-series, Personal Papers, Correspondence, Writings, Professional Papers, and Printed Materials and Clippings.
 

Personal Papers 1855-1934

Scope and Contents

Personal Papers contain materials on his education, certificates and commissions, professional history, and sketches of California and the Colorado river.
box 1, folder 24

Education in Germany 1855-1910

 

Certificates and Commissions

box 1, folder 25

Documents 1889-1930

oversize_folder 1A

Certificates 1889-1930

box 1, folder 26, carton 4, folder 48

Professional Record / Biographical Information (includes memoria) 1904-1934

carton 4, folder 49

World Engineering Congress 1929

box 1, folder 27-29

Sketches, Watercolors, and Painting (California and unidentified) 1878-1895

box 2, folder 1-2

Sketches and Watercolors (California and the Colorado River) 1907

carton 4, folder 47

Biographical

box 2, folder 3

Miscellany 1927-1929

 

Correspondence 1866-1933

Scope and Contents

Correspondence includes family correspondence (written in German and English), congratulations on his nomination to the Isthmian (Panama) Canal Commission, and a description of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.
 

Outgoing 1866-1932

box 2, folder 4-5

Assorted 1866-1932

carton 4, folder 45-46

Extracts from letters of Charles E. Grunsky

oversize_box 4

Letterpress volume containing outgoing correspondence 1897-1898

oversize_box 4

Letterpress volume containing outgoing correspondence 1900-1901

 

Incoming

box 2, folder 6

Family 1875-1929

box 2, folder 7

General 1884-1930

box 2, folder 8

California State Library, Milton J. Ferguson 1926

box 2, folder 9

Herrmann, A. T. 1904

box 2, folder 10

Hoover, Herbert (1874-1964) 1931-1932

box 2, folder 11

Perkins, George (1824-1936) 1926

box 2, folder 12

Phelan, James D. 1904, 1914

box 2, folder 13

Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) 1904

box 2, folder 14

Troutwine, John C. 1917-1921

box 2, folder 15

Townsend Loftus 1930-1933

box 2, folder 16

Correspondence regarding the Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.) [Panama Canal] 1904

box 8

Scrapbook of Congratulatory Correspondence on appointment to the Isthmian Canal Commission (U.S.) [Panama Canal] 1904

box 2, folder 17

San Francisco Earthquake and Fire (Correspondence from family in San Francisco Area) 1906

carton 4, folder 44

Letter from Kate Louise Grunsky to her father, Charles E. Grunsky 1907

 

Writings 1862-1934

Scope and Contents

Writings contain manuscripts of speeches, articles, papers and reminiscences of travel, family, professional, and general topics.
carton 1, folder 1

All American Canal Report 1919

carton 1, folder 2

Bridges, San Francisco Bay Bridge 1931

carton 1, folder 3-6

Business, Public Policy, and Economics 1908-1932

carton 1, folder 7

California 1922-1931

carton 1, folder 8

California Academy of Sciences 1931

carton 1, folder 9

Calendar Alternatives 1932

carton 1, folder 10

Climatology (Ice Age) 1924-1934

carton 1, folder 11

Dams and Flood Control 1927-1931

carton 1, folder 12-13

Engineers and the Engineering Profession 1917, 1924-1931

carton 4, folder 54

From Europe to California: Being Extracts of Letters of Carl Grunsky and his Wife Chlotilde, 1844-1852

carton 1, folder 14

Government 1922-1932

carton 1, folder 15

International Relations, Peace 1917-1925

carton 1, folder 16

Panama Canal, 1905, 1912, 1928

carton 4, folder 50-51

Pioneer Boyhood: Memoirs of Carl Ewald Grunsky, 1855-1877

carton 1, folder 17

Public Utility Rates undated

carton 1, folder 18-19

Reminiscences 1862-1908, 1930

carton 1, folder 20

San Francisco 1921, 1928, 1930

carton 1, folder 21

Standard of Value 1930-1932

carton 1, folder 22-23

Water 1923-1931

carton 1, folder 24

Widening of city streets 1922

carton 4, folder 53

Assorted articles

carton 2, folder 1

Miscellany, Unidentified Notes undated

 

Professional Papers 1873-1938

Scope and Contents

Professional Papers consist of materials on Carl Ewald Grunsky tenure as San Francisco City Engineer, notebooks (generally containing notes and figures relating to professional activities though some notebooks contain personal reflections), and the card file index from the office he later shared with his son, Eugene Lucius Grunsky.
carton 2, folder 2

San Francisco City Engineer, Public Works 1904-1929

carton 2, folder 3

Inventions and Patents (Sewer System, Suspension Bridge, Air Ship) 1927-1930

carton 2, folder 4

Sutter's Fort Restoration Materials (includes sketches) 1907, 1926, 1930, 1938

carton 2, folder 5

Topographic Stadia Surveying: a manual with reduction tables and a new type of reduction diagram , 1917

box 4

Notebooks 1880-1927

box 5

Notebooks 1873-1899

carton 4, folder 55

Notebook 1891

box 6

Notebooks 1904-1931

box 6

Clear Lake Dam Photograph Book with Notes 1913

 

Office Card files undated

carton 3

Writings A-Z, Maps A-R

carton 3

Maps S-Z, Books A- F

carton 3

Books G-Z, General Office File A-B

carton 3

General Office File C-Sn

carton 3

General Office File So-Z, Miscellany

oversize_box 2

World Engineering Congress (Tokyo) scrapbook 1929

oversize_box 3

World Engineering Congress (Tokyo) scrapbook 1929

 

Printed Materials and Clippings 1880-1934

Scope and Contents

Printed Materials and Clippings include books from the UC Berkeley Architecture Association and San Francisco Architectural Club. Collected newspaper clippings feature Carl Ewald Grunsky's work and interests, including California and Stockton history. [see also sub series 3.7 Clotilde Grunsky Taylor for family history]
carton 2, folder 6

Year Book of the University of California Architectural Association, 1914 1914

carton 2, folder 7

San Francisco Architectural Club Yearbook, 1915 1915

carton 2, folder 8-9

Personal Clippings 1903-1934

carton 2, folder 10

Scrapbook Clippings 1907-1910

box 8

Scrapbook of Clippings, General, Collected by Marta Kate Powers Grunsky 1880-1931

carton 2, folder 11

German Language Clippings from Post War Germany 1920-1924

carton 2, folder 12

Water Resources Clippings undated

carton 2, folder 13-15

California and Stockton History Clippings, 1922-1934,

 

SERIES 3: Grunsky Family 1831-1955

Physical Description: Box 2-3, Carton 2

Arrangement

The Grunsky Family sub-series is grouped by family members.

Scope and Contents

Consists of family member correspondence, professional records and writings on family history.
 

Grunsky Family 1831-1933

Scope and Contents

Grunsky family documents include unidentified correspondence, translations of correspondence, information on land in Stockton, and miscellany.
box 2, folder 18-20

General Correspondence 1831-1934

box 2, folder 21

Translations of Family correspondence (German to English) Ewald and Otto's Trip to Germany (1872-1878), and From Post-War Germany (1919-1920) 1872-1878, 1919-1920

box 2, folder 22

Miscellany (includes copy of John Wilson's recollections of Mexico) 1882-1885

box 2, folder 23

Miscellany, Stockton Land 1921-1922, 1933

carton 4, folder 60-61

Assorted genealogy

carton 4, folder 64-65

Unidentified manuscripts

 

Powers Family 1849-1883, 1905-1907

Scope and Contents

Powers Family materials are from Martha Kate Powers Grunsky, wife of Carl Ewald, and her father Aaron Hubbard Powers. [see also sub series 3.7 Clotilde Grunsky Taylor for Powers family history]
 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 1

Outgoing 1851

box 3, folder 2

Incoming 1852-1864

box 3, folder 3

Miscellany 1849-1865

box 3, folder 4

Martha Kate Powers Grunsky Friendship Album 1874-1883

box 3, folder 5

Martha Kate Powers Grunsky Correspondence 1905-1907

carton 4, folder 62-63

Assorted genealogy

oversize_box 1

Martha Kate Powers clippings scrapbook 1881-1904

 

Grunsky, Charlotte (Lottie) Fredricka (1853-1920) 1862-1920

Scope and Contents

The correspondence of Charlotte (Lottie), sister of Carl Ewald, contains information on family affairs, including descriptions of World War I Germany.
 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 6

Outgoing 1862-1884

box 3, folder 7

Incoming 1868-1922

 

Grunsky, Otto Maximilian (1857-1922) 1872-1921

Scope and Contents

The correspondence of Otto, brother of Carl Ewald, contains information on family affairs, including descriptions of World War I Germany.
 

Correspondence

box 3, folder 8

Outgoing 1872-1874,

box 3, folder 9

Incoming 1920-1921

 

Grunsky, Anna Pauline (1879-1935) 1920-1923

Scope and Contents

The correspondence of Anna, half-sister of Carl Ewald, contains information on family affairs, including descriptions of World War I Germany.
box 3, folder 10

Incoming Correspondence 1920-1923

 

Grunsky, Eugene Lucius (1886-1947) 1906-1941

Scope and Contents

The materials from Eugene Lucius, son of Carl Ewald, are professional, describing his engineering projects and research including his notebooks, small binders of notes and figures relating to professional activities and projects, generally organized by subject.
carton 2, folder 16

Professional Record 1916

box 7

Notebooks 1906-1936

carton 2, folder 17

Notebook 1906-1917

carton 2, folder 18-19

Date books 1940-1941

 

Printed Materials

carton 2, folder 20-22

Golden Gate Bridge Reports: Chief Engineer, Traffic Engineer, Wing Report 1930

carton 2, folder 23

Hoover Dam Bidding Specifications 1931

box 8

Ventura County, California Water Survey Reports 1939

 

Grunsky, Charles Ewald, Jr. (1884-1938)

carton 4, folder 56

Biographical

 

Taylor, Clotilde Grunsky (1891-1994) 1954-1969

Scope and Contents

The documents of Clotilde Grunsky Taylor, daughter of Carl Ewald, contain genealogies and family history materials.
carton 4, folder 1

Biographical

oversize_box 1

Clippings scrapbook containing Johnny Kilowatt columns, Helps for the Homemaker columns, and other clippings 1925-1930

box 3, folder 11

Correspondence 1934, 1951-1952

carton 4, folder 2

Correspondence 1935-1952

carton 4, folder 3

Correspondence regarding the planning of the 50th reunion of the University of California Class of 1914 1963

carton 4, folder 4

Drawings

oversize_folder 1A

Drawing of Kate Louise Grunsky Taylor

carton 4, folder 5

Speaking engagements 1920-1930

carton 4, folder 6

Parlor games

carton 4, folder 7-41

Assorted writings approximately 1910-1950

box 3, folder 12

Genealogical Materials and Correspondence 1954

box 3, folder 13-14

The Story of the Lives of Charles and Clotilde Grunsky, 1823-1891, as Revealed in Diaries and Letters to their respective Families: ed. Clotilde Grunsky Taylor 1955

box 3, folder 15-17

Stockton boyhood; Being the reminiscences of Carl Ewald Grunsky which cover the years from 1855 to 1877: ed. Clotilde Grunsky Taylor 1959

carton 4, folder 41

Stockton Boyhood

carton 4, folder 42

Reflections on Stockton (address given at a commenorative gathering at the Weber home approximately 1940

box 3, folder 18, carton 4, folder 43

Recollections of the Aaron H. Powers Family; The story of the lives of the various family members as revealed in letters and events: ed. Clotilde Grunsky Taylor 1969

carton 4, folder 57-59

Taylor, Benjamin Grant